Before you start, set clear intent. A key to success with this (or any) thought experiment is creating the state of having achieved what you want in advance. What will it feel like, look like, sound like to have this? What would you accomplish if anything was possible and you could not fail?

Seeing and hearing this as if you have already achieved it, how do you feel different? How does this feeling move, change, or grow within you?

What is the difference between how you felt with the existing situation and the feelings of success with the right innovations achieved? Note the difference.

Set aside some time when you can give this all your attention. Turn your smart phone off and let that act be an anchor for letting concerns slip away ... a good regular practice to have regardless.

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On to the Abstract Sculpture Thought Experiment.

Think of the times when you were in a relaxed, dreamlike state.

How were things different in those times? How did things look different?

How was your internal dialogue different?

What feelings did you notice that let you know you were relaxing and letting your imagination wander?

How was your breathing changed?

To go deeper, you can cycle through the senses like this a few times. What you saw, heard, felt ...

Now, if you could see your current level of achievement in that area of business as an abstract sculpture, what would it look like? What colors, forms, shadows and lighting would best evoke the feeling of it? Let enough time pass for this representation to fully form.

You can consciously sculpt it or just let shapes emerge, or both.

Look at it from different perspectives. Step back and see it from a distance. Imagine walking around it, looking at it from different angles. How would it look from above? Below? What details would you notice if you zoomed in close to it?

As this congeals in your mind's eye, imagine how the sculpture would look different if, instead, it represented the higher level of achievement, joy, focus, or whatever you would sense with the accomplishment you want. Again, keep it abstract so that it evokes the feeling without being a clear representation. Spend some time contemplating this changed art piece. Again, you can zoom in close, then zoom out to see it from a distance as well as see it from various angles.

Ideally spend at least 15 minutes contemplating the abstract sculpture in both original and evolved forms.

When you are ready, come back and reorient yourself to your normal day-today concerns, maybe with a look at your calendar or planner.

The thought experiment is like bait on a fishing line in murky, unfamiliar waters teeming with life. You can't see what's down there but you will discover it when you reel it in. As the chef of innovation, you don't know what dinner will be but it will be good!

How would things be different with enhanced mental agility from regular thought experiments?

Thought Experiments to Enhance Creativity

The right thought experiment is an exquisite tool for generating new possibilities and thought leadership. This post aims to set the stage for such a mental journey by sharing an overview of six suitable thoughts experiments.

The Model of Excellence Thought Experiment

The Model of Excellence Unlocks Possibilities by Removing Limits of Identity

The Time Machine Thought Experiment

What if time travel was real? Quantum mechanics hints at the possibility.

The Abstract Sculpture Thought Experiment

Here, we consider a method of using abstract visual thinking abilities to stimulate innovation with the Abstract Sculpture Thought Experiment.

The Computer Simulation Thought Experiment

Are we living in a computer simulation? Absurd? Maybe... but it makes for an interesting "what if" thought experiment in shifting perception.

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